Edinburgh Days 11 and 12

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On Day 11 all three of us took the bus to Edinburgh’s Royal Botanic Garden. After that we went by bus and tram to Portobello, one of Edinburgh’s coastal suburbs.

The next day we had a long day trip to St. Andrews, north-east of Edinburgh.

Edinburgh: Day 11 – Royal Botanic Garden and Portobello

Using a public transport day ticket, first we boarded a local bus heading to the Royal Botanic Garden. The Garden was in full bloom and bustling with people enjoying the Edinburgh sunshine. We particularly appreciated the blue poppies, the Chinese hillside garden, and the extensive rock garden which even had a New Zealand plant section!

After that, we went by bus and tram to Leith, then transferred to another bus going to Portobello. Portobello was a popular beach resort in Victorian times, but its glory is now somewhat faded. Nonetheless, on the day we visited there were many people sitting and walking on the promenade, enjoying a meal or drink at one of the several cafes and food stalls, or chancing their luck at an amusement arcade. A few people were swimming, although the water didn’t look too inviting by NZ standards, especially as a cool afternoon breeze was blowing.

By now it was dinner time, so we took another bus to Musselburgh, a little further down the coast, where we had a cheap and cheerful Wetherspoon pub meal. This was more for the experience of dining in an Art-Deco-ish ex-cinema rather than the expectation of a gourmet delight, but the food and drinks were fine. After that it was back on the buses to Morningside and ‘home’. We all agreed we had definitely made the most of our transport day tickets.

Edinburgh Royal Botanic Garden – blue poppies…

Chinese hillside garden

Rock garden

NZ section with astelia, hebes and ferns

Grey squirrel enjoying treats from garden visitors

Wetherspoon fare

Edinburgh Day 12 – Day trip to St. Andrews

Another sunny day and we travelled north, back across the Firth of Forth, via Dundee, to St. Andrews – a drive of about two hours. First, we visited the University of St Andrews, which is the oldest university in Scotland (founded in 1413), and the third oldest in the English-speaking world after Oxford (1096) and Cambridge (1209). It’s also where Caroline and several of her school friends stayed in halls of residence for several nights when they experienced a promotional preview of the university in 1974.

Next we walked into the centre of town in search of toilets (again – not an easy task) and some Greggs sausage rolls which we ate in the University courtyard. We then explored the small but very interesting University Museum (which had an exhibition on space), followed by some tasty gelatos from the main street of town.

We had a quick walk along the cliff top to look at the outside of the Cathedral ruins, and then drove to the carpark near St Andrews golf course. In fact, there are several golf courses at St Andrews, including the famous Old Course, all situated very close to each other. Ian and E spent an hour or so examining the golf course area while Caroline sat on the promenade next to the beach.

We took the scenic route back to Edinburgh along the Fife coast, with its beautiful farm pastures, woodlands, harbours and fishing villages. As usual, it was well after sunset by the time we arrived back in Edinburgh.

St Andrews Castle

People in the sea on the beach below the castle

University of St Andrews Museum…

Sun dial on museum’s roof terrace – it was one hour behind because of British Summer Time (daylight saving). Quote by Ovid, the Roman poet: ‘Neither can the wave that has passed by be recalled, nor the hour which has passed return again.’